TERRY KOSHAN -- Toronto Sun

Brent Sutter's perfect record as coach of Canada's junior hockey team likely will remain intact.

Though Sutter has not told Hockey Canada he will not be back for a third consecutive winter, he appears to be leaning that way.

"It's not off the table, but I think we will be looking in another direction," Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said. "Through my discussions with him, he would love to do it, but there are lots of reasons he could bow out."

The biggest one could turn out to be that Sutter, the owner, general manager and coach of the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels, gets an NHL job. If his brother, Darryl, gives up the coaching reins with the Calgary Flames but stays on as the general manager, Brent Sutter could take over as coach.

Sutter was 12-0 in the past two world juniors as Canada returned to the top of the international junior hockey heap with two gold medals.

Among those who have applied for the job as Canada's world junior coach are Don Hay, Peter DeBoer, Craig Hartsburg, Greg Gilbert, Clement Jodoin and Curtis Hunt. Hockey Canada will conduct interviews during theMemorial Cup in Moncton, N.B., later this month.